A fine George III eight-day musical longcase clock movement and dial with moonphase James Chater and Sons, London and Olney, circa 1760, the case later The five pillar triple train rack and bell striking movement with anchor escapement and playing a choice of four tunes via a 3.75 inch pinned cylinder on a graduated nest of eight bells with eight hammers on the hour, the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with recessed silvered subsidiary seconds dial and arched nameplate James Chater & Sons, London & Olney to the matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five minutes to outer track and incorporating strike/silent selection switch at nine o`clock, the angles with gilt rococo scroll cast spandrels beneath arch with rolling moonphase calibrated for the age of the moon to outer edge and incorporating sunburst and terrestrial globe engraved lunettes, the centre issuing blued steel pointer for selecting a choice of one of the four tunes labelled Jesu Meine Luversich; In allen Meinen Thaten; Globet Leyst du Jesu Christ and Komt ihr Schooden, Adams Kinder to a silvered plate applied to the upper border, now in a purpose made inlaid walnut case with break-arch crossgrain moulded cornice and triple line bordered frieze above conforming surround to the glazed door flanked by Corinthian columns and with hinged brass side frets to hood above crossbanded book matched veneered break-arch trunk door within herringbone and further triple line bordered crossbanded surround, on conforming panel-veneered plinth base with double skirt, 226cm (89ins) high. James Chater senior is recorded in Baillie G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as being admitted to the Clockmakers` Company 1718, gaining his freedom in 1726 and died 1762, Baillie describes him as an `eminent` maker. He had two sons James junior (admitted 1746, free 1753, worked until 1785) and Eliezer (free 1751, Liveryman 1766, Master 1772, died 1777). James and Eliezer are thought to have worked with their father from 1753-62, after which the firm was continued as a partnership between the two brothers.
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A fine George III brass mounted mahogany quarter-chiming table clock with enamel dials Herman Diedrich Sporing, London circa 1765 The seven pillar triple fusee movement with rise/fall regulation to the verge escapement, chiming the quarters on a nest of six graduated bells and striking the hour on a further larger bell, the backplate engraved with delicate asymmetric foliate scrolls with pendulum holdfast hook to lower left hand corner, the 7 inch brass break-arch dial plate with applied circular convex white enamel dial signed HERMAN DIEDRICH SPORING, LONDON to centre and with Arabic five minutes to outer track, the angles with rococo scroll cast spandrels beneath arch with two conforming subsidiary enamel dials for Strike/Silent selection and regulation within delicate foliate scroll engraved field, the bell top case with pedestal surmount capped with a pineapple finial above brass collar and four further finials to superstructure, over front with scroll cast upper quadrant frets and fillet inset glazed dial aperture to door flanked by cast female caryatid applied canted angles, the sides with generous hinged carrying handles above conforming concave topped rectangular side windows, on moulded shallow skirt base with foliate scroll cast bracket feet, 46cm (18ins) high excluding top finial and pedestal, 56cm (22ins) high overall. Herman Diedrich Sporing was Finnish by birth and was one of the `four gentlemen of the faculty` employed by Joseph Banks to accompany Captain James Cook (then Lieutenant) on his first voyage on H.M.S. Endeavour 1768-71. Born in Turko, Finland, 1733 Herman Diedrich Sporing was initially destined to follow his father (of the same name) by studying to become a physician at Turku University (where his father was Professor), before going onto Stockholm to continue his training. Whilst in Stockholm Sporing decided to go to sea (1755) which lead him to settle in London where he trained as a watch and instrument maker (although it appears that he never gained his freedom of the Clockmakers` Company). It was at this time that he befriended Dr. Daniel Solander, a Swede of the same age who also had medical training, who in turn introduced Sporing to Joseph Banks. It was through Banks that both Solander and Sporing were enlisted on H.M.S. Endeavour, with Sporing taking the position of Assistant Naturalist to Banks. The primary official purpose of Cook`s voyage was to ensure that the astronomer, Charles Green, was able to undertake observations of the transit of Venus from Tahiti which was due to take place on 3rd June 1769. The Endeavour landed at Tahiti in plenty of time allowing Lieutenant Cook to construct `Fort Venus`, an elaborate fortified structure from which the observations can be made. Unfortunately, shortly before the event was due to take place, the astronomical quadrant (supplied by Bird) was stolen by local islanders and disassembled. Fortunately all of the parts were recovered by the party of men sent out charged with the task and Sporing (as a trained watch and instrument maker) reassembled the instrument. On the day of the transit Sporing was detailed along with Dr. Jonathan Monkhouse to accompany Lieutenant Gore and Banks to proceed to nearby York Island (Moorea) where Sporing and Monkhouse were to undertake secondary observations. Lieutenant James Cook, a trained astronomer in his own right, clearly found Sporing to be useful at this time; no doubt his abilities as a watch and instrument maker were also crucial to his purpose, as the inventory of instruments was extensive and included a portable longcase regulator by John Shelton. The observation data gathered was eventually transferred to the Admiralty for dispatch to the Astronomer Royal Neville Maskelyne (during the ill-fated stop-off at Batavia on the return leg of the voyage). This data, along with other observations of the same event taken around the globe, were used by Thomas Hornsby to calculate a fairly accurate approximation of the distance of the Earth from the Sun. After the observations had taken place Lieutenant Cook opened sealed orders from the Admiralty which instructed him to seek the position of the great Southern Continent. Charged with these instructions H.M.S. Endeavour proceeded to eventually find New Zealand. During the seven month circumnavigation of the islands Sporing`s primary role was to produce drawn records of fauna and flora (most of the surviving drawings are now held in the British Museum). On the 2nd November 1769 the Endeavour was assaulted by Maori war canoes whilst off Motuhora Island (Whale Island). During this attack Sporing drew details of the canoes and the Maori`s themselves, these drawings along with those of the previous month depicting the arched rock at Tolaga Bay are the earliest images of Maori culture recorded by a Westerner. In recognition of Sporing`s efforts Lieutenant Cook named a small island after him (in Tolaga bay near present day Gisborne) which has now quite rightly reverted back to its Maori name `Pourewa`. Leaving New Zealand H.M.S Endeavour proceeded onto Australia with the `first landing` at Botany Bay taking place on 29th April 1770. During the eight-days spent at Botany Bay Sporing was extremely busy recording the overwhelming quantity of new fauna and flora. Perhaps the best known of Sporing`s drawings from Botany Bay are those of a stingray and banjo shark which were observed from fresh specimens. From Botany Bay Cook headed northwards, up the Eastern Coast of Australia, until H.M.S. Endeavour was seriously holed on the Great Barrier Reef. The vessel was skilfully beached by Cook for repairs near a small river outlet, now called The Endeavour River, near modern day Cooktown in Queensland. It was during these two months of being laid-up that the first kangaroos were seen; on the 14th July one was shot by Lieutenant Gore and examined by Sporing and his fellow Naturalists. Once the vessel had been successfully refloated Cook proceeded (beyond the Great Barrier Reef) northwards until he eventually landed at Batavia on 10th October 1770. By this time H.M.S Endeavour was somewhat worse for wear so was docked for repairs. By 7th December she was ready to depart for the home leg of the voyage and left on Christmas Day 1770 bound for the Cape of Good Hope. Unfortunately whilst at Batavia the crew had been exposed to disease, such as malaria and dysentery, which resulted in disastrous outbreaks. No less than 26 members of the crew succumbed, with Banks, Solander, Green and Sporing also falling ill. Herman Diedrich Sporing died at sea on 24th January 1771 with the astronomer Charles Green dying five days later. When H.M.S. Endeavour finally landed off Deal on 12th July 1771 she had been absent for three years and had lost 38 eight from her compliment of 100 men. The current lot can be fairly accurately dated between circa 1760 and 1768 as it would have been made during Sporing`s time in London after he had undergone training as a Watch and Instrument maker. The dial, with its applied enamel centre beneath twin subsidiaries, echoes the work of Justin Vulliamy and can be closely compared to an example by him illustrated in Barder, Richard C.R. The Georgian Bracket Clock 1714-1830 on page 138 (colour plate 18). As the current lot is believed to have (up until recently) spent all its life in Sweden, it is probable that Herman Diedrich Sporing supplied it direct to a client in his home country of Finland - possibly his own family. This historically interesting and apparently unique clock has survived in fine unrestored condition and requires only gentle conservation to bring it back to full original working condition.
A large and early globe-shaped Belleek ewer, dated 1877, printed and painted in the Hawthorn Bird pattern, with beaded gilt loop handle, printed factory and registration marks, 32cm high This jug was originally part of a set, comprising a ewer and basin. The registration marks correspond to the 5th of February when this shape was first registered, and the 31st of July from the same year when the Hawthorn design was created. These pieces were required to carry this mark for up to two years after creation, and so this piece dates from anywhere between 1877-1879.
BRETT, Simon - An Engraver`s Globe wood engraving world-wide in the twenty-first century illust, cloth in d/w, 4to, Primrose Hill Press, 2002. With ... Hayter, S.W - New Ways of Gravure. Illus, cloth in d/w, 4to, OUP, 1966. With 14 other books on woodcuts, photography, and the art of illustration, etc. (16)
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